Chapter 193: Building Rapport

Chapter 193: Building Rapport

Afraid that Gehrman Sparrow might go back on his word, Anderson snatched the five-soli note in one motion. In his mind, the image of normal beef sizzling over a fire, dripping with oil, and alcoholic drinks that contained absolutely no sedatives naturally surfaced.

Huh. He actually accepted it. I only said that offhand to keep up the persona and make him understand that my money isn’t so easy to borrow, so he wouldn’t get the idea of skipping the pirate hunt, borrowing a big sum, and going straight back to the Misty Sea… Klein muttered inwardly.

In his view, a Sequence 5 Hunter, in a place full of pirates, would never let himself starve or have nowhere to sleep even if he didn’t have a single penny on him.

He shook his head almost imperceptibly and was just about to leave the pier when a rough shout suddenly came from behind him.

“Gehrman!”

…Recognizing Frank Lee’s voice, Klein shivered and turned around with his mind instantly on guard.

The Future’s first mate, the Toxin Expert with a bounty of 7,000 pounds, stood beside the ship’s rail. He cupped both hands around his mouth like a makeshift megaphone and asked, “Where will you often appear? Where should letters be sent?

“I hope to share my latest research results with you.”

I don’t want to know… This guy probably doesn’t have many friends he recognizes as friends, and I’d bet that the vast majority of people he thinks of as friends don’t truly see him that way… Mm. Admiral of Stars’ inner feelings lean more toward the Queen of Mysteries, and she lacks enough sense of belonging to the Tarot Club. Openly developing a turncoat—no, an information source—by her side will help deter her. It counts as a warning delivered at Gehrman Sparrow’s level… With that groundwork, it will be even more reasonable and natural for Mr. Fool to deliver another warning later… Klein’s thoughts raced as he took the note paper he used for divination and his fountain pen from his clothing pocket.

He swiftly wrote down the summoning ritual for his messenger, not forgetting to specify that the ritual materials had to include one gold coin.

With a whoosh, Klein flicked his wrist. The note flew like a dart toward Frank Lee and landed accurately in the other man’s hand.

“Excellent!” Frank Lee glanced at the information on the paper and waved joyfully.

Klein wasted no more time. Carrying his leather suitcase, he left the pier and began looking for an inn.

During that process, he had originally intended to firmly refuse Anderson’s suggestion that they stay at the same inn, but after thinking it over, he ultimately agreed.

He was afraid this fellow, burdened by misfortune, would run into some new problem and bring disaster upon innocent guests and attendants at the inn. Therefore, Klein decided to monitor him from nearby and deal with anything decisively if necessary.

After checking in, Anderson took his key and opened the door to his own room.

Bang! He flopped down heavily into an easy chair, as though unloading a tremendous burden.

After leaving that dangerous sea, he had finally recovered the feeling of being human. He no longer needed to worry that he might suddenly die at any moment.

After lying there quietly for a while, Anderson Hood slowly got up. He picked up the steel-shelled thermos, turned over a glass, and poured himself a cup of hot water.

He felt he ought to pull himself together and make a round through the bars:

Drink some liquor, fill his stomach, and search for sponsors!

Once the hot water cooled slightly, Anderson picked up the glass and drank happily, making gulping sounds.

Suddenly, he began coughing violently, coughing so hard that his face turned faintly purple.

Cough! Cough! Cough!

Anderson reached for his own throat, as though he could no longer draw breath.

With a crack, the glass slipped from his hand, fell to the floor, and shattered into pieces.

Cough, cough, cough… Anderson’s coughing grew weaker and weaker. His entire…